Device for attaching objects to a base or foundation of low mechanical strength



Aug. 13, 1968 H. E. ERIKSSON ET AL 3,396,624

DEVICE FOR ATTACHING OBJECTS TO A BASE OR I FOUNDATION OF LOW MECHANICAL STRENGTH Filed Dec. 27, 1966 FIG. 2

FIG. I

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DIVENTORS HENNING EMANUEL ERIKSSOR FOLKE ASSAR ERIKSSOI ATTORNEIS United States Patent DEVICE FOR A'ITACHING OBJECTS TO A BASE OR FOUNDATION OF LOW MECHANI- CAL STRENGTH Henning E. Eriksson and Folke A. Eriksson, both of Hemmingsmark, Kalix, Sweden Filed Dec. 27, 1966, Ser. No. 604,829 1 Claim. (CI. 85-66) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE with a flange which is bent in the opposite direction from the first-mentioned flange and which has an end pressed by the nail into the concrete, whereby the end of the nail is guided toward the first-mentioned flange.

This invention relates to a device for attaching objects to a base or foundation of comparatively low mechanical strength, such as lightweight or foam concrete.

It is a matter of general knowledge that it is quite difficult to properly attach objects by nailing or screwing to a base or foundation consisting of a lightweight or porous material, such as lightweight concrete, since such objects .often become detached after a short time. This is due to the fact that the tensile or drawing resistance of attaching elements, such as nails and screws, in this material is extremely small. The reason for this is partly-that the material is not compressed or tightened around the attaching elements after they have been driven into the material, and partly that the material is irregularly crushed or comminuted along the line of penetration of the attaching element, so that only a part of the surface of the attaching element bears against the material into which it has penetrated.

Various attempts have been made in prior art to eliminate or mitigate these drawbacks. These prior art constructions include nails with varying cross-sectional profiles along their lengths, studded nails and screwthreaded nails, as well as expansible sockets driven into a preformed bore hole of the material and then caused to expand under a driving stress when a nail or screw is driven device which will effectively permanently connect all types of objects to a base or foundation of low mechanical strength.

Another object is the provision of an attaching device of the described type which will have a satisfactory drawing and pulling strength.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent in the course of the following specification.

In the accomplishment of the objectives of the present invention it was found desirable to provide a device for attaching objects to a base or foundation of low mechanical strength, which includes an elongated tube made of a hard material and having open ends. An opening is cut in one side of the tube close to the lower end thereof but preferably at a distance from the lower end which is several times greater than the diameter of the tube. The cut-out portion constitutes a flange and is bent inwardly "ice so that the upper edge of the flange is pressed against an inner surface of the tube opposite the opening. The tube is driven vertically into the foundation and thereupon a nail is driven into the tube. The lower end of the nail will be guided by the flange through and out of the opening and into the foundation, thereby firmly securing the tube Within the foundation.

It is also possible to provide a second opening in the tube at a distance above the first opening and upon the opposite side of the tube, with a flange extending in the opposite direction so that the lower edge of this flange is pressed against that side of the tube wherein the first opening is located. The second flange may have a bent portion which is pressed into the foundation by the nail.

The invention will appear more clearly from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing showing by way of example, a preferred embodiment of the inventive idea.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal section through an attaching device of the present invention, some parts being shown in side view.

FIGURE 2 is a similar section showing the device in use, after it has been driven into a foundation for holding an object.

The device shown in the drawing includes a tube 1 serving as the attaching element and preferably made of steel having suflicient mechanical strength and elasticity. The tube 1 is open at both ends and its lower end 5 is conically bevelled so that the tube can be easily driven into a foundation 9 consisting, for example, of foam concrete. The upper end 16 of the tube 1 is threaded and carries a nut 15. The nut 15 has the double purpose of facilitating the driving of the tube into the foam concrete by means of a suitable hammer, and also of holding an object upon the surface of the foam concrete. In the example shown in FIG. 2 the nut 15 holds a wooden board or plank 8 upon the outer surface of foam concrete foundation 9.

A hole 10 is cut in one side of the tube 1 close to its lower end 5. However, the hole 10 should be preferably spaced from the lower end 5 by a distance which is a multiple of the diameter of the tube 1. The portion around which the hole 10 is cut and located directly below the hole constitutes a flange 4 which is bent inwar ly until its upper edge bears against the inner surface of the tube which is located opposite the hole 10. Looking in the direction of FIGS. 1 and 2 this is the right-hand side wall of the tube. Thus the flange 4 extends upwardly slantingly within the tube.

The tube 1 cooperates with a nail 2 which has a lower sharp edge 7 and which can be driven into the tube 1. Should the lower edge 7 meet the flange 4 in the course of the downward movement of the nail, the lower portion of the nail will be deflected by the flange 4 so that it will be driven out of the hole 10 of the tube 1 and into the surrounding foundation material in the form of an arc, as indicated in FIG. 2. Thus the nail 2 will firmly anchor the tube 1 in the foundation material and the resistance of the tube 1 to any pulling or withdrawing forces will be greatly improved.

There is the possibility, however, that as the tube 1 is being driven into the foundation 9, many pieces or particles of the foundation will become detached and will enter the tube 1 through its lower end 5. This danger is particularly present if the foundation 9 consists of lightweight concrete. In that case concrete pieces can fill the bottom part of the tube and will press against the sloping flange 4. This pressure may become so great that the flange 4 will be pushed away from the right-hand wall of the tube and will be bent toward the left-hand wall (looking in the direction of the drawing). If now the nail 2 is driven into the tube 1, its lower end 7 will move 3 through the gap between the flange 4 and the right-hand wall of the tube, so that it will not pass through the opening 10 and will not improve in any way the attachment of the tube 1 within the foundation.

A device which will be described hereinafter and which consists essentially of a second flange 12, is used to avoid this danger. The second flange 12 may be used in conjunction with the flange 4 or may be eliminated altogether if the foundation 9 consists of a material which is unlikely to produce any small pieces or particles.

The second flange 12 is cut around a hole 11 provided somewhat above the hole 10 and upon the opposite righthand side wall of the tube 1. The flange 12 constituting the upper edge of the hole 1, is bent downwardly and slantingly and has a lower portion 13 which is pressed against the left-hand side wall of the tube 1 above the hole 10. The flange 12 has an outer end 14 extending practically at right angles to the rest of the flange. The portion 14 is sufliciently short so that it will not project beyond the outer surfaces of the tube 1 when the tube is driven into the foundation.

When now the nail 2 is driven into the tube 1 which is already fixed in the foundation 9, the flange 12 will deviate the end 7 of the nail to a suflicient extent so that the end 7 will move between the left-hand wall of the tube and the flange 4 and will be guided through the hole 10, even if the flange 4 has been pushed away from the right-hand Wall by particles of the foundation material. The forces exerted upon the nail 2 will press the lower part of the nail against the left-hand portion of the foundation. Furthermore, these same forces will push outwardly the flange 12 with its outer edge 14, so that the edge 14 will extend into the foundation and will constitute a further connection for the tube 1 with the righthand portion of the foundation. Thus the flange edge 14 Will further increase the tensile strength or drawing resistance of the tube 1.

It is important that the hole 10 and the flange 4 be located at such a distance from the lower end 5 of the tube 1, that the flange 12, 14 located in front of the hole 11 will be pressed with suflicient strength against the adjacent portions of the foundation.

It is apparent that the described example has been given solely by way of illustration and not by way of limitation and that it is capable of many variations and modifications within the scope of the present invention. For example, the nut 15 can be replaced by a fixed flange bearing against the plank 8. All such and other variations and modifications are to be included within the scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for attaching objects to a foundation of low mechanical strength, said device comprising in combination, a hard straight tube having a threaded open rear end and an open front end having a round sharp cutting edge for cutting the tube into the foundation, said tube having a side hole located at a distance from said front end which is a multiple of the diameter of the tube, a straight flange located forwardly close to said hole and extending slantingly rearwardly across the tube to the inner wall of the tube located opposite said hole, said flange having a rear edge engaging said inner Wall, another hole located rearwardly of the first-mentioned hole upon said inner wall and another L-shaped flange located directly rearwardly of said other hole and having a main portion extending slantingly forwardly across the tube to an inner wall of the tube located to the rear of the first-mentioned hole, an edge portion engaging the last-mentioned inner wall and a bent end portion extending from said edge portion across the tube to said other hole, and a nail adapted to be driven into said tube and having a forward portion adapted to press the bent end portion of the second-mentioned flange through said other hole and into said foundation and to be guided by the first-mentioned flange through the first mentioned hole and into said foundation.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,323,728 12/1919 Toth 8526 1,548,456 8/1925 Goodman 85-23 2,631,584 3/1953 Purificato 85-23 3,177,753" 4/ 1965 Maginnis 8523 3,269,251 8/1966 Bass 8566 FOREIGN PATENTS 663,604 4/1929 (France. 571,452 3/1933 Germany.

MARION PARSONS, JR., Primary Examiner. 

